Device for raising toilet seats



Nov. 12, 1946. B. P. ZULKOSKI DEVICE FOR RAISING TOILET SEATS Filed April 2, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATI'DRN EYS NW. 1946- B.- P. ZULKOSKI 2,410,854

- DEVICE FOR RAISING TOILET SEATS Filed April 2, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. 4 7 {Z fizz/20F. M06%a,

ATTD R N EYS DEVICE FOR RAISING TOILET SEATS Filed April 2, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 (1% i 2 617 5 .Z/ INVENTOR.

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DEVICE FOR RAISING TOILET SEATS Filed April 2, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 "'M ll.

I N VEN TOR.

BfzzrzaPZ' {1%05/525 ATI'D R N EYE Patented Nov. 12, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR RAISING TOILET SEATS Bruno P. Zulkoski, Weirton, W. Va.

Application April 2, 1945, Serial No. 586,187

My present invention, in its broad aspect, has to do with improvements in means for raising and lowering toilet seats, and more particularly it is my purpose to provide a device of this character which is spring operated and released through the instrumentality of a catch and foot pedal whereby to exert the necessary leverage on the toilet seat to accomplish the purpose desired.

Among the important objects and advantages of my invention are, (l) to provide an improved foot pedal means for actuating the toilet seat; (2) to provide an improved spring and leverage apparatus for raising the toilet seat; (3) to provide an improved catch for releasing the device; (4)

to provide an improved release mechanism including a pedal for the catch, and spring means for operating the catch; (5) to provide an improved spring and telescoping spring-operated extensible arm for exerting through an improved leverage arrangement the necessary force to raise the toilet seat, and (6) to provide an improved foot pedal arrangement and associated parts for returning the seat to a closed position. The utility of my device resides in its simplicity, automatic operation, the assurance that a toilet is kept in a sanitary condition, and the convenience with which my device may be installed with conventional toilets now in use.

Other and equally important objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings, and it is pointed out that changes in form, size, shape, construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from my broad inventive concept, or the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings wherein I have illustrated a preferred form of my invention:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a toilet and seat towhich my invention is shown applied;

Figure 2 is a view of a toilet seat, and my device applied thereto and partly in longitudinal section, the closed position being shown in full lines, and the open position in dotted lines, and the changes in pivot points and centers of the parts being shown diagrammatically;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of my foot pedal and spring in closed position in full lines and in open position in dotted lines;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section looking down on my foot pedal and extensible arm, and is taken on the line l@ of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 55 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a detail of my catch;

9 Claims. (Cl. 4--251) Figure '7 is a plan view of the base plate to which the foot pedal is pivoted;

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-4; of Figure '7;

Figure 9 is a top plan view of the foot pedal;

Figure 10 is an end view of the foot pedal;

Figure 11 is a sectional detail of the bifurcated fitting on the end of the piston rod;

Figure 12 is a detail of the catch foot pedal in plan view;

Figure 13 is a detail of the catch foot pedal in side elevation;

Figure 14 is an edge view of the adjustable, sectional seat operating lever;

Figure 15 is a face view of the seat operating lever, and

Figure 16 is a section on the line Iii-46 of Figure 15.

In the drawings wherein like characters of reference are used to designate like or similar parts throughout the several views:

The numeral I shows a conventional toilet bowl, and 2 the toilet seat which is pivotally attached thereto in the usual manner at 3. Attached to I the floor adjacent the base of the bowl is a rectangular base plate 4-see Figure '7having screw openings 5. The base plate 4 has a pair of spaced upstanding lugs 6 between which is pivoted by a pin 1 one end of an extensible arm 8, and outside of the lugs and on the pin 1 is pivoted a hollow foot pedal 9. The foot pedal 9 has a flat top which may be covered by a suitable rubber pad (not shown) and the side Walls l0 have bored bosses I I which receive the pin 5. The pedal is restricted at its forward end as at l2-see Figure 4-and has two opposed bored bosses 53 carrying a pin it on which one end it of a sectional toilet seat operating lever 55 is pivoted-see Figure 3the end i2 is open top and bottom and the end edges are curved downwardly. The arm 8 has a cylindrical closed section l'l--see Figure l-having caps l8 and [9 located at its respective ends; cap l8 being pivotally attached to pin 1 by an ear 2t, and cap I9 is formed with a hole 2i. Section 22 of the arm 8'is in the form of a rod which is received by opening 2i and carries a piston-like head 23 having a small air opening 24 therein. The purpose of which is to slowly blend the fluid in the cylinder or air from one side of the head to the other to brake and cushion th acting of rod. A spring 25 goes about the rod section 22 and bears against the head 23 at one end and against the cap it at the other to normally re tract the rod section, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3. A flexible rubber hood 26 which is conical in cross-section, is mounted over the rod and upon the end of cylinder section I! and carries lubricant if desired. The end l5 of the operating lever l6, below the pivot point I4, is pivotally connected by a pin 21 between the arms of a bifurcated fitting 28 on the end of the rod section 22 so that the action of the extensible arm is to swing the lever on its pivot point M to raise and lower the toilet seat 2, since the remaining end of the lever is ivotally connected by a bracket 29 to the side of the toilet seat. Further details of this operation will be hereinafter more fully described. As shown in dotted lines in Figure 3, the hood 26 fold-s Within itself when the rod is retracted, and the rod is connected to the head 23 by cooperating jam nuts 30 threaded on the end thereof.

The lever I6 is formed with slotted sections 3| and 32, as shown in Figures 1, 14 and 15. These sections are adjustably joined by screws 33 carried in clamping keepers 34 fitting in the slots so that the length of the lever may be adjusted to suit varying conditions, and the bracket 29 has an arm 35 attached under the toilet seat-as shown in Figure l4and a U-shaped end 36 pivotally attached to the end of the lever. The hood has an enlarged annular rib 3'! fitting back of the cap l9 to hold it in place thereon.

In its normal horizontal position of rest (with the toilet seat down or closed) the foot pedal is substantially horizontal, as shown in full lines in Figure 3, and the free end of the arm falls slightly below its pivot point 1 to the dotted 1ine position shown in Figure 3, under the leverage action exerted by the lever and arm under the influence of spring 25 the arm moves upwardly, as shown in the dotted line position of Figure 3. The combined action of the lever l6, pedal 9 and arm 8 is such under the action of the spring 25, as to raise the toilet seat 2, and pressure of the foot upon the pedal 9 lowers the toilet seat.

Mounted on the base plate 4 in advance of lugs 6 is an upstanding bracket 38 to which is pivoted the arm 39 of my catch 40 for holding and releasing the foot pedal 9. An arm 4! is pivoted to the free end of arm 39 and carries a foot pedal 42. The arm 41 is pivotally connected to the foot pedal 9, as shown in Figures 2, 4 and 6. The pedal 42 is located at the outer lateral side of the pedal 9 and has a rigid connection with the arm 4| by an angular extension which passes through an opening 43 provided in the said side of the pedal 9, as clearly shown in Figure 4.

The spring 41 is pivotally attached to catch arm M, the end of the spring being bent to engage in a hole 44 therein, and the opposite end being attached in a similar manner to the base through a hole in lug 6. When the toilet seat is in closed position and the foot pedal is down, as shown in Figure 6, the pivot point between arms 39 and 4| of the catch 49 is below dead center, or below the pivot point of connection of arm 39 with bracket 38. In this position, the pedal is held down in its horizontal position with the spring 25 compressed. Pressure of' the foot on pedal 42 swings the arms 39 and 4| to a point above dead center, as shown in Figure 6, whereupon the action of the spring 41 is to tend to straighten out the linkage aiforded by arms 39 and 4| and assist spring 25 in forcing the toilet seat to a raised position. An arcuate slot 48 is provided in the foot pedal 9 to accommodate the pedal 42.

From the foregoing it is believed that the operation and advantages of my invention will be apparent, but it is again emphasized that interpretation of the scope of my invention should only be conclusive when made in the light of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1, Means for raising and lowering toilet seats, comprising a base, a pivoted foot pedal on the base, a pivoted arm on the base having a hollow section and a rod slidable with respect thereto, a piston on the rod operating in the hollow section, a spring on the rod and bearing against the piston and end of the hollow section to normally retract the rod within the hollow section, a lever connected with the toilet seat and with the pedal and rod to raise the toilet seat upon retraction of the rod under the influence of the spring, the pedal adapted to be depressed to lower the toilet seat, and a catch device for holding the pedal in a passive position with the toilet seat down.

2. Means for raising and lowering toilet seats, comprising a base, a hollow foot pedal, an extensible arm having a relatively slidable cylinder and rod, the pedal and arm having a common pivotal connection with the base and the arm enclosed within the pedal, an adjustable lever pivotally connected to the toilet seat and connected with the free end of the pedal and the free end of the rod part of the arm at spaced points, a spring about the rod and functioning to urge the rod within the cylinder to shorten the arm to move the pedal and lever to raise the toilet seat, the pedal adapted to be manually depressed to lower the toilet seat, and a catch device for holding the pedal and seat in closed position against the tension of the spring, said catch including pivoted links movable to a position past dead center in a passive position, a spring for controlling the links, and a foot pedal for releasing the catch.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the arm is pivotally connected with the lever at one of its ends, and the pedal is pivotally connected to the lever at a point spaced from the pivotal connection of the arm, and wherein the catch has relatively pivoted links, one of which is pivoted to the base and the other to the arm, and said catch having a normal position of rest with its pivot point between the links below and off-center the pivot with the base, a spring connected with the catch, and an operating pedal on one link of the catch for moving the links above the dead center point to release the catch.

4. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein the piston has a bleeder opening to pass fluid from one side of the piston to the other upon movement of the rod section of the arm to cushion the action of the spring.

5. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein the rod section of the arm is provided with a flexible hollow hood to prevent leakage of fiuid therefrom.

6. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein the foot pedal is hollow, and wherein the catch is within the foot pedal in its position of rest and the catch pedal extends through the wall of the foot pedal, there being an arcuate slot therein to accommodate the catch pedal.

7. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein the lever is formed with relatively slidable sections, and means for clamping the sections together in adjusted position to adjust the length of the lever.

B. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein the base has a bracket thereon, the catch having relatively pivoted links, one of which is pivoted 5 to the bracket and the other to the foot pedal, and a spring connected with the latter link and with the pivotal connection of the foot pedal, and a foot pedal on said latter link.

9. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein the foot pedal is hollow and is pivoted at one end to the base and at the other end to the lever, and wherein an extensible arm is carried in the pedal and is pivoted at one end to the base and at the other end to the lever at a point spaced 10 

